MY2023.5 Ford Ranger Wildtrak Update

Ford released a quick-fire specification update to the Ranger after just a few months, with a new wheel option and price rises.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak is the fifth model in the MY2023.5 Ranger line-up and until the advent of the Raptor in 2018, was the previous range-topper. With two variants in a single body style, the dual-cab pick-up, Wildtrak pricing rose between $800 and $1000, running $67,990 to $71,190.

Standard specification did not change, however the 20-inch Wildtrak wheel option was added, the price of prestige paint and the Premium Pack also rose from the MY2022 launch.

This is a story about the Australian-delivered MY2023.5 RA Ford Ranger Wildtrak released in November 2022 and for vehicle production from March 2024.

The Wildtrak picks up where the Sport left off, with just the dual-cab pick-up body style reflecting its lifestyle skewed audience. Engine choices were limited to the 2.0-litre bi-turbo and the 3.0-litre V6, with only 4×4 drivetrains.

As in the Sport, Wildtrak buyers would find a Rotary Select Drive Mode and the off-road screen (ORS). The XLT and Sport’s Touring Pack features are standard on the Wildtrak, as are 18-inch wheels, a larger touchscreen, power roller shutter, upgraded interior and active park assist.

• Carpet flooring
• Leather steering wheel
• Leather gear shifter
• Dual-zone climate control
• Power front windows
• Power rear windows
• Keyless entry and start
• Six-speaker stereo
• Electrochromatic rear vision mirror
• 12.0-inch LCD central touchscreen
  • Sync 4A software
  • Satellite navigation
  • DAB+ digital radio
  • Voice assistant
  • Remote start with FordPass app
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay
  • Wireless Android Auto
• 8.0-inch digital dashboard
• Leather-accented Wildtrak seats
• 8 way power adjusted front seats
• Heated front seats
• Wildtrak stitching
• Ambient lighting
• Pull-out cupholders
• Front mats

The Wildtrak’s appearance is significantly different to the rest of the range (Raptor excepted). Some highlights of the specification include the moulded sports bar with aluminium tie-down rials, the powered roller shutter and cargo management system all as standard.

Zone lighting is also standard, which allows for control over a series of interior and exterior lighting either from the cabin or the Ford Pass app. You can switch everything on at once or choose zones such as the cargo bay.

• Boulder grey 18-inch alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler all terrain tyres, including spare
• Wildtrak grille with mesh painted in Boulder Grey
• Wildtrak moulded sports bar
• Power roller shutter
• Cargo Management System
• Integrated brake controller
• Puddle lamps
• Zone lighting
• Skid plate
• Two front-mounted tow hooks
• Black Side steps with silver trim
• LED headlights
• C-clamp daytime running lights
• LED taillights
• LED front fog lamps
• Steel underbody protection including transfer case
• Tow bar
• 4×4 locking rear axle
• Cargo
  • rear box lighting
  • drop-in bedliner with 12-volt socket
  • additional securing points at front of load box
  • box capping to protect metal on the box with integrated fixing points
  • integrated rear load box access step behind rear wheel
  • tailgate with lift assist
  • power tailgate lock
  • aluminium tie-down rails

The 2022 Ford Ranger scored five ANCAP stars in 2022. This rating will expire in 2028 unless Ford re-tests the vehicle beforehand.

Ranger’s high score is due in part to the front centre airbag that helps prevent head clashes in a side impact for front passengers, which also explains the absence of a front bench-seat option.

• 9 airbags, including
  • front centre airbag to prevent head clashes in a side impact
  • knee bags for driver and passenger
• Collision mitigation
  • forward autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • lane keep assist
  • lane departure warning
  • road edge detection
• Blind spot warning
• Reverse cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Front parking sensors
• Rear parking sensors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Active Park Assist 2.0

The high level of specification leaves just a few options for the Ranger Wildtrak.

The Premium Pack price rose by $350 for the update. Adding Matrix LED headlights and a 10-speaker B&O system along with the Auxiliary Switch Pack and full LED taillights, this seems reasonable value compared to other brands who may charge upwards of $1500 just for Matrix LEDs.

The only addition to the Wildtrak for MY2023.5 is the 20-inch wheel option.

• Prestige Paint – $700 (+$25)
• Wildtrak Premium Pack – $1850 (+$350)
  • 6x overhead auxiliary switches
  • Matrix LED headlights
  • Full LED taillights
  • Ten-speaker B&O branded audio system
• 20-inch Wildtrak Wheel Pack – $500

• Arctic white – solid – $0
• Absolute black – $700 (+$25)
• Meteor Grey – $700 (+$25)
• Aluminium – $700 (+$25)
• Blue Lightning – $700 (+$25)
• Sedona Orange – $700 (+$25)

The Wildtrak pair can be had with either the 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo (bi-turbo) or the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel. V6 models feature full-time four-wheel drive as opposed to the part-time system on the four-cylinder Rangers.

Across the board, the Ranger is capable of towing up to 3500kg of braked mass. Ford specifies a maximum towball download of 350kg.

Keep in mind that whatever you load on the towball comes off your payload. Subtract the load on the towball from each model’s payload to ensure you stay within the legal gross vehicle mass.

Taking the heaviest Wildtrak variant, the 2400kg Dual cab pick-up 4×4 V6, the payload is reduced to 600kg from its 950kg starting weight.

This means you will have to be careful loading the tray with cargo if you’re running a full cabin of people.

Also bear in mind that over 6350kg of gross combination mass is a of a lot of weight, so the standard integrated brake controller is helpful.

Trailer coverage is a part of the Ranger Wildtrak’s blind spot monitoring system (not available on other body styles). This detects you have a trailer and adjust its detection to include the extra length. This means an object travelling both beside the Ranger and the trailer will trigger an alert.

It works by punching in the dimensions of your trailer in a profile in the SYNC system. It will accept trailers up to 2.4 metres wide and 10 metres long to ensure safe operation when changing lanes.

You can also consult the checklist in the SYNC system and the trailer light check function can ensure all your trailer lights are working.

The T6 platform grew for the RA, starting with a wheelbase stretch of 50mm, from 3220mm to 3270mm. Similarly, the track has increased by 50mm, now spreading out across 1620mm up from 1570mm.

The RA Ford Ranger Wildtrak is fitted with a locking rear diff as standard. Steel underbody protection is in place and an integrated braking controller is also standard. The four-cylinder models have a part-time four-wheel drive system while the V6 is full-time four-wheel drive.

The Wildtrak features six driving modes as standard, with Normal, Eco, Slippery, Tow/Haul, Sand and Mud/Ruts.

Ford says the drive modes adjust gearshift, throttle response, traction and stability controls, ABS “and more.”

The Tow/Haul mode made its debut on the RA Ranger, intended to optimise gear shift timing to maintain power while climbing and to provide engine braking on descent.

In addition to the driving mode selections, the Wildtrak has Off Road screen as standard. The off-road screen offers the view from the front-mounted camera for extra visibility, particularly directly in front of the car. The camera view has overlaid guidelines to assist with navigating around obstacles.

The screen also shows steering angle, vehicle pitch and roll, driveline torque split and electronic diff indication.

The Wildtrak’s blind spot monitoring detects you have a trailer and adjust its detection to include the extra length. This means an object travelling both beside the Ranger and the trailer will trigger an alert

The RA Ford Ranger’s tub is larger, now accommodating a Euro-sized pallete, which is a result of Ford’s collaboration with VW for the Amarok.

Access to the tub is via drop-down tailgate, which is undamped. On the way up, however, is a lift assist system. Wildtrak adds a powered roller shutter cover for the load bay as well as aluminium rails integrated with the moulded sports bar.

Additionally, Ford has added a step or footplate to the lower side of the tub to allow step-up access to the load area. You can also check the depth of your load with a ruler imprinted on the side of the tub (as long as you don’t have a drop-in or spray-in bedliner).

The tub also features various lights, a 12-volt power outlet and partition slots and a drop-in bed. The Wildtrak comes with zone lighting and the Cargo Management System as standard.